CNA or PCT? Which one is better?

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Both classes begin February 2nd. Help me choose guys! CNA is 8 weekends long and Patient Care Technician is 16 also on the weekends!

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Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.

To the best of my knowledge they're about the same. If you are intending to go on to nursing I say CNA.

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Both classes begin February 2nd. Help me choose guys! CNA is 8 weekends long and Patient Care Technician is 16 also on the weekends!

CNA will be quicker and cheaper, and get you work experience faster, but you may have to work in LTC, which some people avoid like the plague.

PCT is longer and more expensive and there are probably fewer job opportunities for someone with no health care experience, but the job pays better,and will teach you some additional skills.

Which one I chose would depend on my financial situation and how quickly I needed/wanted a health care related job, and whether I was going to Nursing school any time soon. If I had the time and money to spare and wasnt already accepted to Nursing school, I would probably go with the PCT class, otherwise Id go CNA and start working sooner, and perhaps find a PCT position that is willing to train experienced CNAs in the additional skills required.

If you plan on going to Nursing school, PCT school might be a waste of time and money, since all of the skills you learn would be covered in Nursing school. The same could be said of CNA school, but at least thats cheaper and faster, and many Nursing schools(if not most) do a poor job of teaching CNA skills and just assume the student will learn this stuff on the job when theyre an RN(I know Ive had to pretty much teach some new RNs Ive worked with some of this stuff).

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Specializes in inerested in school nursing, peds, OR.

Where I live you rarely see a PCA class, they just have CNA classes and hospitals call their CNAs PCAs. CNA is usually a term used in LTC. I know that some say a PCA (or PCT) is a CNA with EKG and phlebotomy training. Is this the case here? Usually if hospitals where i'm from want you to do EKGs and phlebotomy they will train you on the job, but usually and EKG tech or phlebotomist do there things. Could be different where you live though.

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Specializes in Emergency.

They are the same! Where I live the and nationally I believe...the ONLY certification accepted is the CNA. Do not get duped like so many in my state have into taking all these so called "PCT" classes, they are a waste of money. Get your CNA do your time in a LTC if you have to(or if you love to do that) and if/when you get into a hospital you will be taught everything on the job that you would be spending hundreds if not thousands on in these so called classes. Besides what good is a class "about" phlebotomy, or "about" EKG when you can do it on the job for real. Get that door opening CNA and start working! Almost all of the people I was in my CNA class with that went out and got jobs are working and have learned all of the PCT stuff already...those that went on to take all those extra weeks/months of classes for the so called "PCT" are either not working or are still mired in classwork...also a hospital usually will only hire a person with a min. of 6 mos. experience so even those folks with the PCT classes cannot find a job because they have no hands on experience in the first place! Good luck.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Wher I live, PCTs work mostly in the hospitals and CNAs (STNAs in my state) work mostly in nursing homes. It's different all over. Depends on where you want to work, I guess.

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They are the same! Where I live the and nationally I believe...the ONLY certification accepted is the CNA. Do not get duped like so many in my state have into taking all these so called "PCT" classes they are a waste of money. Get your CNA do your time in a LTC if you have to(or if you love to do that) and if/when you get into a hospital you will be taught everything on the job that you would be spending hundreds if not thousands on in these so called classes. Besides what good is a class "about" phlebotomy, or "about" EKG when you can do it on the job for real. Get that door opening CNA and start working! Almost all of the people I was in my CNA class with that went out and got jobs are working and have learned all of the PCT stuff already...those that went on to take all those extra weeks/months of classes for the so called "PCT" are either not working or are still mired in classwork...also a hospital usually will only hire a person with a min. of 6 mos. experience so even those folks with the PCT classes cannot find a job because they have no hands on experience in the first place! Good luck.[/quote']

LOVE THIS!!!!! Haha! You motivate me!

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Specializes in OB.

Agree with the rest: go get your CNA license.

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I am currently in CNA school on the weekends to sit for the NHA exam to be a PCT. I agree that CNA's seem to work in LTC facilities and PCT's work in hospitals more, at least here. PCT takes longer though; but better pay. CNA will have you working quicker however. Wish you the best!

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Wow I just signed up for this course. I am excited to do any of them.

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Thank you all!

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